This Airline Was Named the Best Low-cost Carrier in North America

Scoring a cheap flight always feels like a win—at least until travel day arrives and you’re stuck with cramped seats, rushed layovers, and service that leaves a lot to be desired. Striking the right balance between affordability and quality can be tricky. But according to the Skytrax World Airline Awards, one North American carrier has found the perfect balance.

Allegiant Airlines was named the best low-cost airline in North America in the June awards ceremony, receiving the honor for the second time in two years. Additionally, Allegiant was named the best low-cost airline in the United States and came in at No. 15 in the worldwide rankings.

“As a leisure focused airline, our unique business model bridges the gap in connecting small-to-medium sized cities to premier vacation destinations. This accolade is a testament to the hard work of our team members and acknowledges Allegiant’s long history of providing exceptional service at unbeatable value for our customers,” Allegiant’s Chief Executive Officer and President Gregory C. Anderson said in a statement following the awards, adding, “We strive to provide our customers with a seamless, comfortable and convenient travel experience, and this recognition validates our efforts.”

The airline, headquartered in Las Vegas, specializes in connecting small- and medium-sized cities that are generally underserved, like Provo, Utah; Orange County, California; and Knoxville, Tennessee. Rates on Allegiant Airlines flights can start as low as $38.

“Allegiant’s back-to-back recognition as North America’s best low-cost airline is a testament to its customer-focused approach,” Edward Plaisted, the CEO of Skytrax, said in the statement. “Passengers have highlighted the airline’s commitment to providing reliable, value-driven service tailored for leisure travelers.”

To determine the best low-cost airlines, Skytrax looked at more than 325 carriers around the world based on customer reviews. All reviews were completed on a voluntary basis with no payment or other reward offered in exchange for participation. The 2025 results were determined by 22.3 million surveys.

Following Allegiant on the North America rankings for 2025 was Southwest Airlines at No. 2, Sun Country Airlines at No. 3, Air Canada Rouge at No. 4, Frontier Airlines at No. 5, and Spirit Airlines at No. 6.

The top low-cost airline in the world was AirAsia, which is headquartered in Malaysia and operates throughout Asia, Oceana, Africa, and the Middle East. That was followed by Singapore-based carrier Scoot, India-based carrier IndiGo, German airline Eurowings, and Spanish carrier Vueling Airlines to round out the top five.